By Joe Viglione
Back in the early days of the Boston Rock and Roll Scene it was James Isaacs’ Cellars by Starlight and Rory O’Connor at the Real Paper who ran weekly columns that benefited our music scene greatly. Along with those pioneers was Ms. Janis Reed’s monthly column in Musicians’ Magazine, which migrated to The Beat in the 1980s.
As I managed Janis and she is somewhere in South America, I decided a few years back to resurrect the column in Billy Tauro’s Somerville/Medford News Weekly.
My goal is to inspire more rock writing in Boston, and to give exposure to veteran musicians as well as the up and coming.
A GREAT PLACE TO MEET IS AT BRISTOL STUDIOS
WHEN: Friday March 14, 2025 @ 7 pm! WHERE: Bristol Recording & Voice Studios 238 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02115 It’s an Open Mic night
Admission goes toward a studio services raffle for all participating artists! Pre-registration is required for all performers Give us a call to learn more: 617-247-8689 Or email us at info@bristolstudios.com Original music or covers are welcome Bring your own tracks or accompany yourself Keyboard & PA system provided This is a family-friendly event – no profanity, please!
Owner Ric Poulin told me via phone on Saturday, the 22nd, that they tape the performances. Call the Studio for more details
DEAN PETRELLA, bassist Chris Cruz and drummer Anthony Marotti = THE COMPLAINTS ARE BACK!
One More Fight by Dean and the Boys is now out
https://youtu.be/yx8sjgKs69w What’s intriguing about this tune is that an acoustic duo version is available before the recording happened https://youtu.be/iogsIQcv2ts Dean Petrella, performs One More Fight Live from Alley Taps, Nashville TN 9.12.2023. Co-written by Joe Martira. Songwriter showcase at this legendary Nashville hot spot. Impromptu guitar work from the legendary John Brazile. The song works as an acoustic number or with the band’s legendary trademark sound. Their debut album, Fear, from 2000 means that this is twenty-five years of refining and defining their sound, a quarter of a century. It shows on “One More Fight” which perfectly continues their great structured work of melodic rock
Aart Knife has an amazing new band Wicked Theory
When Aart was on my Boston Rock and Roll Anthology #2 in the band L-88 they were a big hit on WBCN – the early 1980s, and we put them in the Worcester Centrum with Blue Oyster Cult due to the popularity of the hit.
“This Could Be Love” by Wicked Theory, an all original hard-rock quintet, clocks in at 3:02. Wonderfully layered guitars in the twenty-two second intro draw you in with Jodee Frawlee’s distinctive voice setting the pace. Not a cover of The Cars “This Could
Be Love,” Wicked Theory has its own brand of crunching, relentless rock that would fit on any free-form radio signal. Led by L-88/Theory 13 guitarist, producer Aart Knyff, and with versatile bassist Tony Franklin (The Firm, White Snake, Blue Murder, Bonham and original Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm,) Keith Ryan on drums and Jeff Instasi on rhythm guitar and vocals, these veterans create an intelligent, fun and explosive rock sound that delivers the goods. Frawlee’s authoritative and heartfelt approach to each lyric along with the web of guitars makes for repeated spins. Music recorded at Compound Recording and mixed and mastered at PDQ with 16 time Grammy Award winner Bob St John, “This Could Be Love” is a winner. Joe Viglione 9:44 pm
And at Sanctuary – Cultural Arts Center
80 Main St, Maynard, MA 01754-2541 you can close out February on Friday evening, the 28th at 8 pm Doors 7 PM | Show 8 PM with Gary Backstrom Band and The Gravel Project
Liquid Light Show by Sons Lunaris
Originally created by Andrew Gravel (vocals, guitar), The Gravel Project is an all star band of Boston music veterans including brother, Jordan Gravel (organ, keys), Dave Fox (drums), and Eguie Castrillo (percussion). The Gravel Project’s live show blends rock, world music and jazz with power and soul. Carrying the tradition of 70’s blues and psychedelic rock music, The Gravel Project embodies the spirit of Santana combined with the classic raw energy and moving songwriting of The Allman Brothers and Tedeschi Trucks Band. With three studio albums, a live album and countless past performances, the future is bright for Boston’s The Gravel Project, and as the title of their 2022 studio album suggests, there are “Many Miles Ahead.”
The Gary Backstrom Band will be opening the night – a Boston-based band that mixes Soul, R&B, Funk, Rock and Latin grooves
RADIO SHOW OF THE WEEK, ROCK UNDER THE RADAR WITH MARIAN FERRO Rock Under the Radar
Marian Ferro is the host of this show on Mark Skin Radio
Q: When did you first start in radio?
A: 14 years ago, 2011 on the Watertown public access station, WCAC. I was on WMFO starting in 2016. When covid was rampant, we community members were not allowed to go to the station. I’m still technically on the staff but I had to stop doing a show when my hip problems made it impossible for me to walk up those stairs.
Q:Where do you find the music that you play?
A Many places. My boyfriend, Walter, is always finding new bands/CDs. Musicians, publicists, and labels send me some music. I also try to keep up with artists that I like to find out when they have something new.
Q:How do artists contact you?
A Sometimes email, sometimes through Facebook *Marian’s e mail is attila5@comcast.net
Q:Tell us the focus of the show
A It’s called Rock Under the Radar because I focus on rock, and I like to introduce my listeners to artists/music that they don’t yet know. I also play a lot of blues, and local artists, some local classics. And I end each show with the piece de resistance; Serious Guitar Time!
JV: Thank you for participating
Upcoming show: Come down and rocknroll in Roslindale.
Hambone Skinny The Guilloteenagers Screw Cart
The Square Root March 29, 2025 8PM $10 The Square Root
2 Corinth St, Roslindale, MA 02131-3015,
Kenny Selcer has a terrific video with “Waves” 5 minutes and 8 seconds of instrumental magic https://youtu.be/LhFw4v6GHOY Kenny’s cover of Lowell George’s ”Willin” is sublime. Willin’ by the great Lowell George of Little Feat fame. Enjoy! Please subscribe to my You Tube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/kenselcer
Paul Norman has a TV show Music Alive North Shore which we will profile soon. Check out the Facebook page. Paul’s son, Alex Norman is doing music in Mexico and has an autobiographical song out, The Space Between.” https://www.facebook.com/reel/1007971737888431